The Washington critic., 1887-12-14
MAkING THE ROUNDS.
The pOslmaStcrS Call on Gen, Villas
and the President,
THEIR WISHES FORMULATED.
Ihc Delegates Photographed In Front
Of the Treasury Department.

chairman. Some Of the committees
had not finished their work and there
was some delay after the convention
was called to order before the commit
tees reported or any business was done.
Much hard work was done last night
and the pos,mastcis are much better
acquainted with each other now than
yesterday.
The Postmas,cr-Gencral was in the
lobby of Willard's last night and, as one
of the visiting postmastcrs said, we
don't know how he liked us, but we like
him very much"
The Committee on BILLS compiled
some recommendations last night, but
did not formulate them in bill. The
first business done at the morning scs-
sion was the appointment Of com.
mittee, consisting Of Mcssrs. Soper OF
Michigan. Briggs of Illinois, Clark of
New York, Williams of Iowa and
Spraguc Of Vermont. TO arrange II pro-
giammc to be followed by the convcn-
tion during to-day.
The report of the Committee on Bills
was then called for and Mr.. Fitz-
simmons of Rhode Island mounted the
stage and read the report of the COM
mittce as follows:
THE rosTM,sTERs' BEcoMMENpArfoSs.
Your Committee on Bills make these
recommendations:
Thirdclass-Wc recommend Government
ownership of the boxes safes and al 9thcr
appurtcnanccs necessary TO carry on the ptisi-
ness of tliird-cass offices.
We also recommend and request that the
expense of rent, light and fuel shall be
borne By the Government, believing as we
do that such items of expense are properly
chargcablc to the appropriation for the sup
port and maintenance oi the postal service
We further recommend that the Govcr'-
inent allow TO offices of the third class an
amount sufllcen, to employ. competent
clerical force to properly conduct the busl-
ness of the office.
Fourth class-lt Is recommended that the
expense OF rent, light and fuel of iourih-class
offices he allowed by the Government upon
the following basis: On salary of $50 per
wear, and not To exceed $50, s25; on sal
nry exceeding $50 per year, and not to cx-
reed 500, 500. on q salary exceeding $40
per year, and not to exceed 500 $40 OH Il
ralary exceeding $500 per year and not to
exceed $50, 500; on salary exceeding 500
II wear, and not To exceed $1,000 SlJO.
1t Is recommended that the compensation
of 'uurtli.c!ass offices, where mails are dis
tributcl for other offices be based upon the
following schedule; One mail daily, except
Sun,lay. $50 per anniim; two mails daily
except SUNDAY, 500 per nnnum: three mails
daily, except sunday $50 per lnniin; four
mails daily, or more, except Sunday, $3.50
per annuln.
We recommend that all railway postal
clerks bt supplied with q suitable oovern-
iucnt card, on which they may report to
.pos;inasters the amount of mail matter, oi
ill classes, that may be deposited thereon,
GnJ That these cards shall be addressed 10
the postmaster at each and every office
whcr,, such mail matter may be placed ON
II ft-tits npt thut tlp npstunstpr shall he
entitled TO take credit, in his quarterly re-
uuIis, uIon the value of the stamps can
cccl rs reported upon said Government
cards.
Il is recommended that when the cancela
tiun- amount TO $50 per quarter Tor ioul
c'r.pcutivc quarters, or when the gross re
clipts amount to - 500 for any one year ex
c,liiyc of the money order business, 1t shal
bg d, c!arcd third.cass office.
On motion the report was accepted ii
read. There was considerable discus
sion Of the Bill Committees report, bu
on, account 4 the limited time there wa
no definite action taken. The Committe
on Programme then reported as follows
Nlnrcl, to the Postotiicc Department, whcr
we will visit the Postmaster-Gencral am
lirst Assistant Postmastcr.Gencral, then bac
tu " ilurls, where we will don button-hol
bouquets lat ten cents eacll), then to theWhit
House to call upon President and Mn
Cleveland, and afterwards make tour {
the city In carriages.
The report was adopted. The discus
sion of the Bill, Committee and its re
port was recommended. 1t was term
mated by motion to defer discussion {
convention, which was carried Th
convention then adjourned until
o'clock.
THE ROUND or VISITS.
Al 1915 the postmasters arrived |
the Postoiiice Department. They fir
called on General Stevenson, who az
dressed short speech to them an
shook their hands. Then the postma
tiers went to Postmastcr..General Villa
ante-room, where they waited until son
Congressman who were calling on NJ
Nias finished their business, whe
they were admitted,
An advance installment of the caller
consisting Of Editor Patterson and thr'
postmastcrs, entered the room first al
prepared Mr. Villas for the shock of Sc
ing more postmasters than he ever sl
before together.
Then the postmasters filed in throul
the ante-room, shook hands with tn,
Postmaster-G General, and passed o
through another room. There was
formal speech making, but many of I
postmasters had a word of regret at N
Villas contemplated retirement, and n
Villas expressed himself as pleased
seeing so many Of his hardest-work
suhordnates.
Many of the visiting postmasters Al
called on others Of the general Office
of the Department, and then roam
around in the big building visiting Va
ous points of interest, the Dead-Lctt
office receiving a large share Of att'
tion.
Some Of the fourth class postmast,
who were members Of the Commit
on Bills were not satisfied with the r
concentrations as to that class of po
offices and appointed committee, CO
sisting Of Mcssrs. Williams, Cruis
IIcrz1g, Walter and Gall, to make Il l
nority report embodying their ideas.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
From the PostoiIicc Department
postmasters returned 10 Wizards, 4
forming in the hall proceeded to
White House, where they Were recei'
by President Cleveland, Mrs. Gle
land Disappointing the many visit
who expected to see her. After
reception the postnastcrs crossed
lawn to the west front of the Treasu
Were they We're photographed, q
then went back to the hall and resun
their session. Ii Is expected that
business will be finished and the c
vention terminate tonight.
The Hopkins Case Postponed.